Anti Fed Ed Warriors, what would you do if your State began an ‘ad’ campaign designed around ‘in-your-face’ fallacies? What if those fallacies centered on education?
Would you tell someone?

If you’re like me, you’ll do your best to share what you saw to help others know what to look for as well. The fallacies I’m about to share are SO deep, I’m even going to dust off my “Fib-o-Meter”!!
*For those new and fairly new to my blog, my “Fib-o-Meter” was a weekly Friday feature when I first began blogging. It was in those articles I would take what was being passed off as ‘truth’ and expose the fibs and fallacies.

Warriors, look at the ‘in-your-face’ fallacies!In less than 30 words, this simple picture and it’s teaser spell out 2 fallacies.

Second, Enter “Fib-o-Meter”:

For this one small ‘ad’, the“Fib-o-Meter”rates its use of ‘facts’ as the first‘Total Fallacy”.

The ‘facts’ are all subjective in content! How do I know? First, no State, especially NC has ditched Common Core. No State, including NC has said “Not on my watch!” to all that is connected to Common Core! No State, including NC has escaped (nor will it) the federal overreaches into our schools of ALL choices thanks to ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act). NC has done what every other State has done, re-branded Common Core.

The next “Fib-o-Meter” rating goes to ‘cradle to career’. This overused and meaningless phrase has been used as “Total Truth”by the anti CCSS (now Fed Ed) Warriors for years. “Cradle to career” is also part of the tag line for Strive Together(a big CCSS Machine member). Strive Together encompasses entire communities with the ‘cradle to career’ agenda. In NC, Forsyth County is one such center of alignment.

An aligned collective community?!

Where Warriors have used the ‘cradle to career’ phrase to expose the ‘one-way-to-learn’ for OBE/CBE(outcome based education/competency based education) workforce trained students; the CCSS Machine uses it as a selling point.

Third, ‘Hype NC’:

Warriors,North Carolina (NC) has some great folks and great places. The State level government has also spent many taxpayer dollars coming up with all kinds of ‘feel good’ slogans to entice people and businesses to move here. For example, if you want really good, locally grown food, look for the “Goodness Grows in NC” label. Another label you can find for locally made consumer goods is “It’s Got To Be NC”. I’ll admit, the name “BEST NC” ranks right up there with something which sounds great. We’ll look into what is behind the catchy slogan in a few minutes.

However catchy (or not) a slogan or name is, look at NC’s State level education entities. Between the NC DPI (Dept. of Public Instruction) and the NC SBE (State Board of Education) you’ll not find slogans so much as you will CCSS reform agenda-driven vision statements. You’ve seen these in your States, too. The ones which sound ‘super’, but are ‘in-your-face’ with an ugly reality lurking behind the words.

For example, here’s the NC SBE’s vision for education:“Every public school student will graduate ready for post secondary education and work, prepared to be a globally engaged and productive citizen.” Warriors, look at the picture directly above. That is the SBE’s vision in reality being carried out in the NC DPI.

Since the CCSS Machine impacts all other school choices in addition to public schools, you won’t have to look to hard to spot how ‘hidden’ the alignment is. For example, the Dept. of Non-Public Education (housed in the NC Dept. of Administration) is set aside for home education as well as private education. However, visit the home education information and there sits the NC Public School graduationrequirements should your student wish to attend a NC public college.

What’s more is that the website directs you to the NC SBE if you have more questions. This is followed by a note to parents that states your local school boards usually require additional graduation parameters. Warriors, the reason parents choose home education is to be FREE of the public system!

Fourth, “BEST NC”:

Warriors, “BEST” stands for ‘Business for Educational Success and Transformation’.No need to ponder their agenda, is there? Look below and see how ‘in-your-face’ their design for education in NC is:

Thanks to ESSA’s mandates for MOREP3s (public-private partnerships) in education, we’ll see groups like BEST NC increase their choke-hold in our educational systems.

Remember, Warriors, part of the CCSS Machine corporate plan is to squeeze out parents and teachers altogether.

If you’d like to see how the priorities from BEST NC will be carried out, visit their page.

If you wish to view the BEST NC hype video for leading the nation in great education, it’s below. Listen for the buzzwords of the CCSS Machine, like ‘personalized learning’.

If you wish to read the BEST NC 75 page “Facts and Figures” Report, you can find it here. You’ll find CTE (Career Tech Education, the adult version of Common Core), STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and, Math), ACT assessments, WorkKeys (pigeonholing assessment for career tracks), and so much more CCSS Machine evidence to support one goal:

“the future of our state’s economy is inseparable from the quality of our education.”

Closing:

In my next article, I’ll be highlighting an upcoming NC conference dedicated to professional development for teachers and tons of CCSS Machine agenda for communities across the State. While many of you do not live in NC, you can use what I’ve found as evidence it can be found in your State. Maybe by a different name, but the agenda is all the same across America.

Fellow Anti Fed Ed Warriors, I realize the title of this blog article is an ‘elephant in the room’ observation. We all have known for a while, now, how education has been used against our nation’s citizens. As the days in the ESSA Era (*Every Student Succeeds Act Era) continue to grind on, we’ve seen many new Warriors come to this observation.

Sadly, very few political and/or policy leaders have seen how the CCSS Machine vastly weakened academics. Because of this, it is becoming easier to see (on a daily basis) that education has become almost like a weapon used against us.

Think about it, Warriors.
When a person is being charged with a crime or is being taken into police custody, they are read their “Miranda rights”. Contained in those rights are these words, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

Now, in the context of education, it is becoming clear ‘Anything done in education is being held against us.’ Keep that thought as you read on.

One of the biggest ways education is being used against our teachers and students is in the guise of ‘accountability’.

ESSA’s language was especially ‘generous’ with the word. ESSA was also written to be very deceptive. Our schools are suffering even more now, than before ESSA’s passage into the law books.

So, just WHAT were/are the ‘accountability’ mandates in ESSA?
1) Data measured any way and every way possible.
2) To get the federal funds, States must fulfill certain obligations.
3) Control and power of education in the hands of the unqualified.
4) Global workforce agenda driven.

Warriors, of course this is a boiled down list. There are many, many other mandates woven into each of these four.
However, for the sake of those new Warriors, I’ve condensed the list.
*********************************************************************************

Back in August of this year, I shared with you how the U.S. Dept. of Ed’s misuse of ‘accountability’ was harming our States. Here we are, months later and the misuse not only continues, it’s growing.
***********************************************************Warriors, take, for example, the announcement below. What has your State done to align and misguide you where ‘accountability’ can be found? In Superintendent Johnson’s announcement, ‘accountability’ is NOT used, but ‘transparency’ is.

Warriors, that brings up another ESSA fact. “Accountability” and ‘transparency’ are being used interchangeably!

Enter, NC’s “New” Report Cards:

Warriors, thanks to ESSA’s mandates for ALL education being aligned to workforce based industry standards, we know that means that all schools must have data which can be accessed and used. We know it means the ‘grading’ of entire schools across your States will increase in rewards and punishments. Of course, all this grading is the direct results of how well students are learning, how well teachers are leading, and how well principals are keeping everyone in line.

From Superintendent Johnson’s email, the fine print tells you there are 3 different websites for you to access the Report Cards. The first two are for researchers. The last one is for all those with questions. Now, Warriors, if we’re being so transparent and accountable, why 3 different sites? Why not use one?

Johnson unveiled the updated Report Card site (was brand new back in 2001) in his former school district, Winston-Salem Schools. To see the official announcement, visit here. A CCSS Machine member group, FEE (Foundation for Excellence in Education), has also published an article on their ExcelinEd blog about the updates. It’s based off THEIR principles for education!!

As far as the ‘new’ report cards, what’s attention grabbing about using the first of the two sites for researchers is you see a blue screen with SAS in the middle. (This quickly fades as the NC Dept. of Public Instruction page appears.) I’ve added emphasis, below:

Typically, when you access any NC DPI website page, there’s no such process. So, is SAS spying on me when I access the ‘research’ page? It’s more of a probability than a possibility. Even if you aren’t a researcher, you need to see the data sets and definitions.

If you wish to see the NC Report Card website on its own, go here. Once there, select any of the 100 counties. Then, click on a school. You’ll see all kinds of colors, numbers, and information. However, skip the glamour and go for the ‘downloadable’ District Reports. You’ll get a better understanding of what’s being reported on, as well as how it aligns to CCR (College and Career Readiness). CCR is a re-brand of Common Core for every State. For those States which received Race to the Tops funds, CCR will even show up in the applications and award letters. CCR is also used in ESSA.

I did check the NC Report Card for one of my county’s CTE (Career Tech Education) specific schools. What I found was awful. Not one textbook is in use. No academic growth, whatsoever. Knowing more and more States are shifting to this type of ‘education’ for requirements in graduating, we need to act quickly, Warriors! This cannot be acceptable!

Related and Relevant:
1) How Title One funds in ESSA’s Era are being used against us.
2) How ESSA’s embedded WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) ties are being used against your students.
3) How the massive data mining (thanks to ESSA and many related legislative moves) is harming our families.
4) One of the biggest ESSA traps for ‘accountability’ and ‘transparency’ is for our teachers and their ‘performance’.
5) SAS has had a contract with the NC DPI since the days of the ARRA funds (American Recovery and Re-investment Act). SAS is a global data miner/contractor. If you wish to see where else I found the company has government contracts for NC (so you can see what is similar in your State). Warriors, remember, ESSA was full of all kinds of technology updates. SAS will play right into these.6) SAS has supported a shift in education from academics to workforce not only in NC, but all the way to D.C..
7) Winston-Salem is part of the Strive Together national network of aligned communities for cradle to workforce collectivism.
8) ESSA’s educational use against us will also be felt in all school choices via ‘accreditation’.
9) ESSA will use school leaders against us, as well.

Closing:

Warriors, education is definitely becoming a weapon for conformity, not freedom. We have the power to stop our leaders! How? As my fellow Warrior, Karen Bracken, has stated, ‘Starve the Beast’! Don’t keep your kids hooked into the data mining school system. Remove them now! If you cannot remove them, be that persistent parent who is always visible at school. We cannot allow education to used against our children in this way.

Being a great neighbor is a privilege. But what do you do when your new neighbor is a portion of the Every Student Succeeds Act{ESSA}?! Hang on, anti CCSS Warriors, the information you are about to read may cause shock!

The Language:We all know the ESSA is over 1,000 pages and its ink was barely dry when it was voted on and passed into law. Very few took time to read it when it first came out. I wager many others STILL haven’t read through it today! However, we MUST keep digging, we MUST know what the language says. To date, several truths have been uncovered and shared. Warriors, we CANNOT stop now! This huge education bill has more embedded which loosely pertains to education, but largely changes our communities as we know them!

So where in the ESSA do we find anything that deals with our neighborhoods? Section 4624, titled “Promise Neighborhoods”specifically. Yet, I found on page 602 (Section 4623) language using the above phrase as well. Further down on page 602, you can see Section 4621 is referenced as a set of parameters for these Neighborhoods. Page 603, gives us language where funding is discussed. Page 606 and pages following explain the Secretary (as in the U.S. Dept of Education Secretary) will have to approve grants for these neighbors, how pipeline services must be used; how families will be measured, and more!

Over on page 612 you can learn about types of schools and what they must provide to the neighborhood will include. Follow this through to page 615. There you will see the following language. “(2) INDICATORS.—The performance indicators established by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be indicators of improved academic and developmental outcomes for children, including indicators of school readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary education and career readiness, and otheracademic and developmental outcomes…” The next section is 2465 and this is where the full service community schoolis laid out in detail.

Before we move on, though, let me urge you to read the above pages. There you can find out how the data mining on our students plays into their neighborhoods and SO much more! You can see how the U.S. Secretary of Education will be able to control more than ever before!
Access to the ESSA: ESSA FINAL CONFRPT_112915

A Promise:

Let me state I am NOT picking on any one group. I am pointing out how a program which has, in the past, been helpful, has been used as a way to usher in MORE control in our communities. If you haven’t heard of the Promise Neighborhood program, please refer to the following resources.

1) PolicyLink’s excerpt, “PolicyLink also pushed for and is grateful for the inclusion of the Promise Neighborhoods program in this legislation. Housed under Title IV, the legislation authorizes Promise Neighborhoods, a program inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone, which wraps children in high-quality, coordinated health, social, community, and educational supports from cradle to college and career.”See the rest of the article: https://www.policylink.org/blog/promise-neighborhoods-authorized-in-ESSA

2) The White House’s ESSA Reportexcerpt, “Creating Promise Neighborhoods: Since 2010, the Administration’s Promise Neighborhoods program has sought to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by investing $270 million in more than 50 of our nation’s most distressed communities, representing over 700 schools. These efforts are helping to build a pipeline from early learning to high school and beyond for our highest-need students by creating comprehensive, wrap-around educational support services and strong, vibrant school environments. Moreover, 1,000 national, state, and community organizations have signed-on to support and partner with Promise Neighborhoods to ensure these initiatives are effective and long-lasting.”
See the rest of the report: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/10/white-house-report-every-student-succeeds-act

As far as the ‘full service community schools’, Anita Hoge has detailed much about what those schools will look like and how they will transform your neighborhood schools into a one stop shop of education related (and most of the time not education related) services.
However, if you want to read the ESSA for yourselves to see the details of what a full service school will offer, see pages 597 through 618. One of the best graphics you can get for these learning centers can be see below. This is Anita’s work, not mine. (The White House has a special program for these full service community schools. It is called the ’21st Century Community Learning Centers’) To access Anita’s research, visit the following blog from Maine where links are embedded for you to follow. See: https://unmasker4maine.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/anita-hoge-womb-to-tomb-community-based-schools-school-based-clinics/

How is the “Community School” makeover thriving? “Promise Neighborhoods”.

If you would like more information:
1) From the U.S. Dept. of Ed on the 21st CLCCs (21st Century Community Learning Centers): http://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html

Have you heard of “Google CS First”? Well, by the end of the anti CCSS “Sic’ ‘Em Saturday”, you’ll know plenty. Thanks to one of my avid followers, I was pointed to the program. Before we get too far the “CS” refers to Computer Science, but it could be code for Core Standards, too. What’s more, it’s a fun, free way to introduce us to those 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Hidden Message:

If you look at the wording of the very general description for Google’s CS First, you may not see the 21st Century Community Learning Center, but the intent is there. How? That line about increasing learning after school, weekends, etc. That leads to how do 21st CCLCs mean Common Core? P21 (Partnership for 21st Century Skills) has plenty on how. So does Knowledge Works “Strive Together” programs. I’ve written about both before (as have others). The idea behind 21st CCLCs is to do away with local schools, school control and replace them with community centers where health care, education, job training, and more are completed. Of course, this program doesn’t (at least on the surface) look menacing, and it may not be. However, the CCSS Machine (of which Google is a part of) dangles free stuff, offers ‘the you can’t miss this’ stuff to us. We are so enamored we don’t see the the ball and chain attached. When we do, it’s too late, we’re stuck. More hidden agenda right before you? “Coding”, ‘targeting 9-14 year olds’, and needing community volunteers to run the ‘clubs’. If you look into the ‘clubs’ much deeper, you’ll even see the clubs have ‘agenda timers’. To see the ‘harmless’ overview, visit: http://www.cs-first.com/overview To find those ‘agenda timers’: http://www.cs-first.com/training/using-agenda-timer?works=1&logistics=1&scratch=0&tips=0

The Gates Foundation gave a $20 million grant in 1998 for the development of their Computer Science Lab. ‘Scratch’ was created at MIT in the Computer Lab in 2007. (to see the Grants Foundation link, http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/1998/02/OPP495) To see the 2007 ‘Scratch’ information, see: http://codetolearn.org/what-we-fund (scroll down until you see the name) So how is the “Code to Learn Foundation connected to MIT? Who funds the Foundation? MIT alumni head up the Foundation. Funds come from a variety of organizations and people. Both more in-depth answers can be found: http://codetolearn.org/about-us I can share with you that Pearson Publishing is among the many sponsors. Oh, there’s also a Scratch, Jr. out there.

Those Google CS First Clubs:

Going back to the Google CS First program, let’s take a closer look at the clubs. Headed by volunteers known as ‘gurus’. Seriously, gurus. I thought no one younger than 40 would recognize that word. If you’re wondering what the word means, it means ‘teacher’ or ‘master’. It is especially used in Indian religions.
The Google Gurus will be leading from pre-written scripts when conducting club time. I don’t know about you, but the clubs I belonged to, as well as the ones my students were involved with, didn’t have scripts. They had interaction. Besides, a true master of a subject shouldn’t need a script. The true educational masters out there, speak freely about their knowledge and are flexible enough to know that many different styles are needed to reach as many students as possible. If you view the video about the ‘important topics’ for this club, you’ll hear the very first item on Google’s wish list is that you change a child’s perspective of computer science. Why? To point to careers. (as in Career Pathways thinking, Career Tech Education plans) After all, all those career assessments in younger grades have to taken by these students. We wouldn’t want them to be steered in the wrong direction, now would we? See the embedded video: http://www.cs-first.com/training/cs-first-important-topics?works=1&logistics=1&scratch=0&tips=0 (it’s at the bottom of the page) Your other really important guru job? Teaching the students about coding. Unless computer programming has really stepped it up, my courses were BORING, dull, and awful..so much so, I switched my degree.

Google’s Common Core Union:

If you search the internet for “Google Common Core”, you’ll receive a bevy of results. The first one that caught my eye was my friend’s article. Michelle Malkin wrote in 2014 about Google and the Standards, http://michellemalkin.com/2014/01/08/common-core-and-the-edutech-abyss/ You’ll be amazed at the other results. There are tons. Then factor in all those apps. There are tons! See the screen shot below:

Search your smartphone’s app store, how many CCSS results do you get?

Action Steps:

1) If you have a Google CS First Club in your community, visit it, see exactly what those scripts contain!

2) If you have Google Plus you can access the scripts on-line. Remember, agenda will be there, hidden in plain sight.

3) Help leaders of these clubs understand the connection to Common Core. Are they okay with helping support CC in this way?

4) If you want to learn more about the connections between CC and CTE or Career Pathways, I invite you to search my blog for CTE (Career Tech Education) or Career Pathways. I’ve got a tremendous amount of research invested in these topics. The CC and CTE/Career Pathways are indeed joined together for one smooth track for your students.

5) Choose to refuse Google CC apps! Again, agenda hidden in plain sight. While the app may or may not say CC on it, read the description. Does the description say anything about helping or understanding CC? Does the description mention it is written to align with CC?

6) If you don’t know P21, or Knowledge Works, you can also use my blog’s archives to see what I’ve unearthed or search for them on your own. Either way, you need to know their parts transforming not just education, but America as we know it.

It’s Friday, you know what that means! Time to measure what’s truth, what’s fallacy/fib or what’s in between.

Literally, a couple of days ago, I shared with you about an organization called FSG and was able to tie it, not only to Common Core, but to the Gates Foundation. Before we fire up the “Fib-o-Meter” for its weekly measurement of “Total Truth”, “Neutral”, or “Total Fallacy”, I wanted to introduce to you a group that’s a result of the combined efforts of FSG and the Aspen Institute (a huge proponent for CCSS). It’s called the “Collective Impact Forum”. In the screen shot below, note the tone of voice the opening paragraph gives.

Nothing says ‘alignment’ quite like the ‘collective good’.

First Up, the Funding:

If you log on to the CIF’s website, you’ll see alot about togetherness, community, and collective good. Then, on the right hand side of the screen, you’ll see a set of 3 boxes. One is about the funding. So, I clicked there. Seems CIF isn’t as ‘community oriented’ as they want us to believe. Why? You have to be a registered ‘funder’ to see whom else funds the Forum! For not being very neighbor-like in a community for collectiveness, “Total Fallacy”for denying access to those who respect transparency in our organizations. Oh, those other 2 tabs, one is labeled ‘Backbone Community’ (but you have to be a registered ‘backbone’ to view the rest of the others with backs). “Total Fallacy” for again, denying transparency to the general public.

The last one is labeled simply “Community”. That one I could access without being registered. Alas, this too is packed with general access. If you scroll down and see the pdf file they have to highlight their efforts in OUR communities, you have to be a registered member to have the document. I don’t think I like these neighbors very much, so far.*NOTE: After digging around and being denied entry into several portions of this online community, I was able to find out the funding foundations. Fib-o-Meter’s rating this group as one big blob. For their collective efforts in funding our collective demise: “Total Fallacy”!

Next up, a “Total Truth”, Sort Of:

If you’re thinking there’s not much the Fib-o_Meter can measure today, just remember, we’ve not gotten very far. However, I did find this that from the perspective of the CIF, they feel is a “Total Truth”.

Those of us fighting CC, should consider it a chilling reminder why we fight so hard for our individual students. Visit, http://collectiveimpactforum.org/what-collective-impact, and as you scroll down, you’ll understand how the Fib-o-Meter measured this “Total Truth”.

I can share with you by snooping around the website a bit more the CIF considers the 2011 Standford Social Innovation Review’s article about collectiveness to be a foundation for what CIF does. The description CIF gives of the article shares it’s about large scale change with a common agenda for all. Here’s an excerpt you need to see concerning education. “The scale and complexity of the U.S. public education system has thwarted attempted reforms for decades.Major funders, such as the Annenberg Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts have abandoned many of their efforts in frustration after acknowledging their lack of progress. Once the global leader—after World War II the United States had the highest high school graduation rate in the world—the country now ranks 18th among the top 24 industrialized nations, with more than 1 million secondary school students dropping out every year. The heroic efforts of countless teachers, administrators, and nonprofits, together with billions of dollars in charitable contributions, may have led to important improvements in individual schools and classrooms, yet system-wide progress has seemed virtually unobtainable.” Did you notice the “Total Truth” about those major funders? All 3 have been identified as pro-CCSS supporters. To see the rest of that 2011 article (where the Strive Together program is touted as successful; I’ve also written about Strive’s ties to CCSS), visit: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact

The “New” Neighbors?!:

In finding a page where you could actually find something other than ‘you must be a registered ____________.’, Look at the ‘neighbors’ committed to helping us all become more collective. (click to enlarge the picture)

For each of the above groups you can conduct your own look into them as far as their ties to CCSS or this collectiveness. Just by the sheer fact they are named in a joint project by two OTHER pro CCSS groups, might be proof enough for you. As an example of what you can find, look at what Fib-o-Meter did find out about United Way Worldwide (one of the organizations above). UWW is committed to global education and has corporate ties with other supportive CCSS groups such as Ford Motor Company, Exxon, WalMart, AT and T, and more. (see: http://worldwide.unitedway.org/pages/corporate-partners )

For this, Fib-o-Meter, rates UWW’s activity in this as “Total Truth”. For more “Total Truth”about the US United Way’s design on aligned education, see their “Birth to 21 Continuum”. You can access the timeline AS well as see what else they are doing in US education, http://www.unitedway.org/our-work/education/

Finally, Another Partner in the CIF You Should Know About:

Before the Fib-o-Meter shuts down for another week, let’s see how it rates this last group we’ll look at today. Called “The Integration Initiative”.

Why is this one so special? Let’s find out. Here’s the reason Fib-o-Meter finds it ‘special’, see below and click to enlarge it.

Those most powerful institutions behind this Initiative? Straight from the TII’s website:

The Financiers:

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

AXA Equitable

Bank of America

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Citi Foundation

Deutsche Bank

Ford Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The JPB Foundation

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Kresge Foundation

The McKnight Foundation

MetLife, Inc.

Morgan Stanley

Prudential Financial, Inc.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation

Surdna Foundation

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Wells Fargo

Affiliate Members

The Cleveland Foundation

The Skillman Foundation

Did you notice any group listed above as ones you already know as CCSS friendly, supportive, or profiting from? Fib-o-Meter did! More “Total Truths” from the TII about ‘cradle to career’, ‘data mining useage’ and more can be found at:

https://www.livingcities.org/search?q=education

Notice the amount of P3 (Public Private Partnerships) involvement in our education system. Certainly not a great thing at all! If you consider that P3s are how we were saddled with CCSS in the first place, you know what a “Total Fallacy” this concept is!!

Closing:

Each week, since I’ve begun my blog, we’ve looked at the fibs the CCSS Machine would like us to believe and exposed them. We’ve searched out and found the truth the Machine has wished to remain buried and brought them to the surface. I hope you’ve been able to see from this article and the one just 2 days ago that the collective mindset is ruining our education. It’s eroding our society. It’s simply a bad fit for America.

How about a cradle to career conference? The CCSSO’s (Council of Chief State School Officers) partners of Knowledge Works and Strive Together are hosting one soon! Common Core is sure to be there!

The Conference:

Titled, “Exploring Communities Convening” and will be held in late March 2015. For the two days (tickets go for anywhere between $500-800 a piece)you’ll get up close look at why your community should align itself to the Cradle to Career Network. Where will this be held? Indianapolis, IN. Who’s leading this CC laden 2 day event? The staff of “Strive Together”. To see the conference agenda: http://www.strivetogether.org/sites/default/files/2015-Exploring-Convening-Agenda-at-a-Glance.pdf

Who/What is “Strive Together”?:

In case you weren’t a follower of mine back in 2014, I’ll provide my original article about not only “ST” (Strive Together) but Knowledge Worksas well. Both are partners of the CCSSO (Council of Chief State School Officers); co-copyright owners of the CCSS. (see: https://commoncorediva.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/fom-friday-knowledgeworks-or-knowledge-quirks/) You’ll also want to see the Prevent Common Core article I wrote on them as well from late 2014: http://preventcommoncore.com/?p=1247

2) http://ladyliberty1885.com/2014/10/24/the-ccsso-unc-nc-and-india/ (*Note, you’ll be able to connect some more dots when you finish this article)

The Communities:

In the picture below, you’ll be able to see the current network of aligned communities involved in this radical agenda for our nation. Why would I say radical? Their two guides you can receive in the mail (at least you could in 2014). One is titled “2020 Forecast: Creating the Future of Learning” (a joint publication with Knowledge Works and Institute for the Future) and “Knowledge Works Forecast 3.0: Recombinant Education, Regenerating the Learning Ecosystem”. (*Note: in my previously published article from above, you can get a more information about both publications.)

A network of communities more aligned than they may know.

So, what do these communities align to? A collective community wide infrastructure. Here’s just one of the pillars, straight from their website:

Cradle to Career Vision & Scope – A vision for improving education outcomes for students beginning at birth, continuing into and through secondary and into and through post-secondary schooling until they secure a meaningful career.

Want to see the rest? Click on the picture below:

I’ve included the 2014 ForsythPromise Annual Report so you can see up close what a “ST” aligned community does. Forsyth County is in North Carolina. In fact, it is the only NC city to be in Cradle to Career Network. When you access this Report, you’ll see alot of the CCSS buzzwords (ie: rigorous standards, college/career ready, etc.) BUT you won’t see CCSS named specifically. In fact, the only reference to CCSS I could get from “ST”‘s website was the director’s participation in a panel discussion where CCSS was one of many topics. But, as we’ve learned in our anti CCSS fight, just because you don’t see it on the surface doesn’t mean it’s not there. It means you have to look closer. (the Report: Promise-Report-Web )

It’s Friday, you know what that means! Time to measure what’s truth, what’s fallacy/fib or what’s in between.

Today’s “Fib-o-Meter” Friday is a quest to see if we can find any modern education reform NOT impacted by Common Core Standards from just a few of those in the ‘education’ business.

First up, Nellie Mae Foundation:
Maybe you’ve heard of Nellie Mae? Maybe you haven’t. Nellie Mae hangs out in the upper eastern side of the USA. She’s been around since 1990 and is a huge fan of public school reform. Way back when, she was helping fund education for students. Fast forward to today and you’ll find Nellie’s had a makeover!! One of her ‘sugar daddies’? Gates Foundation! Since 2009, Nellie Mae’s gotten well over $1 million to transform her entire outfit. (see: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database#q/k=nellie%20mae%20foundation) Let’s see how!!

Changing, according to Nellie Mae, begins at the school district level. Here’s our first statement that the “Fib-o-Meter” will rate.

“School districts are essential actors in any education reformand will have to play a vital role in any efforts to expandstudent-centered approaches to learning. Without districtleadership of student-centered reform initiatives, widespreadimplementation is likely to fail.”

“Fib-o-Meter” will be rating this as “Neutral”. Why? It is becoming more and more unclear how essential school districts are when filtered through Common Core. One only has to turn to the media to find real life accounts of how local control is being misused, undercut, and ignored. One school board official I’ve met shared how mandated the state has kept them. However, ask the state and they share how much freedom the school districts have. To make this a “Total Truth”, we’d need to be free of the CCSS in all shapes and forms. To make this a “Total Fallacy”, we need only to listen to those convinced it’s the business world that’s the new reformer. What makes the above statement so worthy of the “Fib-o-Meter”? It’s one of the findings educational experts discovered.

“School districts serve as a key connection between communities and their schools.”

While this may be true in the upper eastern portion of the US, I highly doubt this is a statement the rest of the nation can agree on. “Fib-o-Meter” is giving this statement a “Fallacy” rating. With all the funding being thrown around in the nation for those 21st Century Community Learning Centers and CCSSO movements like “Strive Together”, added to the overall aspirations of some business groups to dissolve school boards, it’s a hard sell to believe this finding.

One of Nellie Mae’s ‘boyfriends’ (aside from Gates) is the ILN, an arm of the Chief Council of State School Officers. I found this CCSSO/ILN video embedded on Nellie Mae’s website. As you watch it, run the statements you hear through your “Fib-o-Meter”. Be sure you note the white board in the opening moments and look for CCSS.

Here’s what CCSSO says about ILN, “The Innovation Lab Network (ILN) is a group of states taking action to identify, test, and implement student-centered approaches to learning that will transform our public education system. The goal of the ILN is to spur system-level change by scaling locally-led innovation to widespread implementation, both within and across states, with a constant focus on student outcomes. Current states in the ILN include California, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Schools and districts within these states have been given the opportunity to act as pressure-testers of new and innovative ways to address the needs of their students, with backing and support from their state departments of education. In the context of the ILN, CCSSO acts as a centralizing entity that facilitates collaboration and communication among ILN states, and provides leadership as states move forward with their innovative efforts.” Based on the fact CCSSO owns one half the copyright to CCSS and has vested interest in education reform, “Fib-o-Meter” rates them as “Total Fallacy”.

The Framework Institute:

Nellie Mae’s been busy, she helped this institute come to life. She had lots of help, however. This Institute could double for a “Who’s Who Among CCSS” event! See for yourself, “With funding from Nellie Mae, Ford, Hewlett, Mott, Kellogg, NoVo and Raikes Foundations; significant previous related funding from Lumina and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and recently-added funding from the Noyce Foundation, this collaborative endeavor has supported extensive quantitative and qualitative research to identify how to reframe critical issues in education reform.” You really need to see their entire list of funders/supporters: http://www.frameworksinstitute.org/partners1.html

This pro CCSS group wants to play a game with you.

I found the above game, “Swamped” on the FI’s website. It is geared for adults. You really need to access this game and see the ‘pay it forward collective’ agenda. It’s complete with ‘think/say this’, ‘don’t say/think that’. For example, you, the player are told to NOT focus on the triangle of ‘parent, student, teacher’. (“Totally Fallacy” via the “Fib-o-Meter, by the way. We SHOULD be focused there. CCSS is damaging all in the triangle!)

More “Total Fallacy” from the Framework Institute, an entire ‘Talking Points” guide to STEM in education!STEM-talking-points, Sorry FI, if you want me to discuss STEM in education, I’m using the PCAST report that explains how STEM is the agenda for “STEM citizen for life” in education (see my 09/02/14 post about PCAST, STEM and Common Core)

Well, folks, looks like if we truly wish to find education that works without CCSS, it won’t be from any of these organizations.
****Important Note: Beginning 12/20/14 I will be going on Christmas break, here on my blog. I’ll be featuring my most read blog articles immediately after Christmas Day (beginning the 26th of December). Fresh articles will begin again on Jan. 5th, 2015. I thank you for your continued support and readership. IF you have any article ideas you’d like to see researched, please leave me a comment.

It’s “Would You Believe It Wednesday” and I cannot think of a better follow up for this week’s “From the File Tuesday” about SHEEO, the CCSSO, and CCSS than today’s eye-opener of a research paper by the NCPSR (National Center for Post Secondary Research) describing in detail the purposed implementation of CCSS!!

Yet another bullet of truth today. Share!!

In our above photo we see a young lady, possibly a college age student. Today’s post is for you, sweetie, and the millions just like you. Desiring to move ahead on life’s path, with Common Core standing in your way.

National Center for Post Secondary Research:

In February 2013, a paper was published by the Center about the need for Common Core in post secondary schools. However, let me share just which groups make up the Center before we get into the bullets of truth for today.

1) The Center is comprised of the following schools, organizations: Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Harvard University, The Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, MDRC (formerly known as the Manpower Demonstration Research Council; it’s a education policy group), and the University of Virginia.

2) The Center was founded by funding provided by the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences.

3) The 2013 “Working Paper” for today’s ‘Would you believe it?’ is titled ‘Common Core State Standards: Implications for Community Colleges and Student Preparedness for College’

The Paper:

Here’s an excerpt from the opening pages, “Based on a review of literature and on interviews with individuals involved in the CCSS nationally and in Washington, Florida, and Kentucky, this paper outlines the development of the CCSS and the CCSS-aligned assessments, the involvement of higher education representatives in their design and implementation, and how the CCSS and the aligned assessments can be used to support the mission of community colleges.”

The introduction goes on to state the 2 national assessments will be used, later in the paper, they will be announced, but I think you can guess, right? PARCC and SBAC. The paper will go on to state that standards haven’t been consistent and that has posed a problem. If you’ll remember I wrote my very first “Tech Thursday” post about the “Adult CCSS” and how the Common Core was intentionally chosen. (see 9/4/14’s “Common Core After High School, a Reality Check”)

Pages 3 and 4 highlight some “College and Career Readiness” Partnerships, but not to the extent yesterday’s post did.

You’ll find the research questions used in this study on page 9, and below:

1. “What role has higher education played in the development and implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and aligned assessment systems? 2. How is the implementation of the CCSS and their aligned assessment systems unfolding in three selected states? What has been the role of higher education in these states? 3. What are the policy and practice implications for community colleges of the CCSS and their aligned assessment systems, particularly in light of recent research by CCRC and others?”

The three data sources for the results of the above questions?? The 3 groups we learned about yesterday!! The CCSSO (Chief Council of State School Officers), the SHEEO (States Higher Education Executive Officers), and the AASCU (American Association of State Colleges and Universities).

Note: the 3 selected states are FL, WA, and KY, see their side by side comparison of implementation, complete with details notes, on page 20. I’ve included a few highlights from the 3 states below:

1) Florida’s role in the CCSS implementation process for higher ed, “Both the Florida College System, which consists of 28 community and state (four-year) colleges, and the 12 public universities that make up the Florida State University system have been involved from the beginning with alignment discussions related to the PARCC assessments. “ Followed by, “A Florida state statute maintains that high schools must administer a college readiness assessment in 11th grade to students that score within a certain range on the state assessment exam, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0). School districts may use any Florida State Board of Education–approved assessment, and many districts have chosen the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) for this purpose. If a student does not attain the college-ready cutoff score on the PERT, she is required to take college postsecondary preparatory instruction, called College Success and College Readiness courses. This set of courses is comprised of college developmental education courses offered at the high school level and is aligned to the CCSS and to college-level competencies.”

2) KY’s role in the CCSS implementation process for higher ed, “The appearance of the CCSS was timely for Kentucky. In 2009, legislators enacted a new state law, Senate Bill 1 (SB1), which required the state to revamp both its standards and assessments by spring 2012. SB1 included a mandate that the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE), and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) collaborate to create a unified college and career readiness plan that would lead to a reduction in remediation rates and an increase in college graduation rates (Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, 2013)” Following that, “…. implications of the CCSS for universities and two-year colleges, such as how these new standards would impact the teaching of introductory-level general education courses. Among the three states profiled for this study, Kentucky was the only state where those interviewed reported that the higher education sector had played a substantial role in reviewing and providing feedback on the drafts of the CCSS.” Then, “The higher education sector was also involved in developing a statewide definition of college and career readiness, also required by SB1.”

3) Washington’s role in the CCSS implementation process for higher ed, “According to a state higher education official, the higher education sector played no formal role in the early stages of the adoption process for the standards and, outside of connections to teacher education programs, there had been minimal outreach to higher education representatives to participate. However, they have become more involved with the CCSS implementation process in recent months. Washington, like Florida, partners with Core to College to encourage K–12 and high education alignment activities.”

Key to the 3 states are funding, legislation, and timing in the successes or setbacks in implementing CCSS in higher education. Beginning on page 33 is how the other states will be impacted, if they haven’t been already. This encompasses ‘dual enrollment’ programs (in NC, it’s called “Career and College Promise”), on-line classes, and more! On page 36, see how the community colleges curriculum will change, if it hasn’t already. Here in NC, all the community colleges are already aligned to CCSS, textbooks, assessments, and lesson plans all reflect it. **Note, if you have a student in a community college, ask to see the textbooks, the on-line portions of their course work OR have them understand what to look for in regards to CCSS aligned materials! I have a community college student, I’ve seen the textbooks..they are NOT better, in spite of what we’ve been told. Professors HATE teaching the CCSS at this particular school, but must or they have no job!

On page 38, the CCSS alignment between high schools and community colleges via partnerships begins. From the Appendices (you’ll really want to look there), is this lovely note, “Only seven states (Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and West Virginia) have completed plans in all three areas(Porter et al., 2012).” This is in reference to where are the other states in the process of implementing and aligning to CCSS in higher education. Link to the entire study: http://www.postsecondaryresearch.org/i/a/document/25958_common-core-state-standards_2.pdf

The MDRC:

I’m highlighting this organization because while it’s a partner in all this, it’s one we know very little about. Not anymore!

The formerly named “Manpower Demonstration Research Council” was created back in 1974 by the Ford Foundation and a select group of federal agencies. In 2003, the group trademarked a new name, “MDRC”. It’s non partisan, non profit. MDRC address education and social issues especially when impacting the low-income population. You’ll want to see the rest of their history and where they’ve worked (hint: more than the USA). See: http://www.mdrc.org/about/about-mdrc-history

Among its Board members are representatives from pro Common Core schools or organizations such as the Brookings Institute and Harvard. (there are others, too).

Among the funders are the following Federal agencies,

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Social Security Administration

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Known and identified pro Common Core supporters:

The National Governors Association, The Joyce Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Knowledge Works, The Gates Foundation, AIR (American Institutes for Research) HOWEVER, there is an incredible amount of support via many other organizations, public and private! See the entire list of shame, http://www.mdrc.org/about/funders-mdrcs-projects

Their report, published in 2011, focused on ‘career focused learning community’. Also in conjunction with the NCPR. Helping fund the paper among our known supporters, was the MDRC Endowment.

“Contributors to the MDRC Endowment include Alcoa Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Anheuser-Busch Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Lizabeth and Frank Newman Charitable Foundation, The New York Times Company Foundation, Jan Nicholson, Paul H. O’Neill Charitable Foundation, John S. Reed, Sandler Foundation, and The Stupski Family Fund, as well as other individual contributors.”

Why this study bears investigating: 21st Learning Communities are a very real threat to our American way of life. I’ve written about them, so have others. It’s a portion of the Agenda 21, global mindset where a school becomes more than a learning institution, but the community center where every service is offered. With “Knowledge Works” involved (see above) I’ve seen their ideal of the “Strive Together” communities, 90 strong already in working order across the US. “Cradle to Career for EVERY Student” is their mindset.

Link to the MDRC’s study: http://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/Breaking%20New%20Ground%20ES.pdf

A division of Knowledge Works, which is an arm of the CCSSO.

In Closing:

If you didn’t find your state community colleges listed, don’t relax for a minute! Remember the Career Pathways are ALSO in our community colleges and high schools. As you have learned 4 year high education institutions ARE not EXEMPT from Common Core!

It’s Friday, you know what that means! Time to measure what’s truth, what’s fallacy/fib or what’s in between.

This past Tuesday, I wrote about the CCSSO (Council of Chief State School Officers) and their “lab states” for Common Core. Well, thanks to an avid Common Core Diva reader from AZ, I was pointed to even more that falls under the realm of the CCSSO. So, let’s get the Meter ready…

“KnowledgeWorks”

This arm of the CCSSO has been around since 2005. It’s the educational vision caster for the Council. From what I read, it should qualify for science fiction, that is, if all of this education reform were a joke.

KW, as I’ll refer to them from here on, uses the collective results of all the Innovation Lab Network research. From their 2013 report “Recombinant Education: Regenerating the Learning Ecosystem” here are their 5 goals for the future of education:

They went on to share that UDL (Universal Design for Learning) works well with CCSS because by profiling the students to find their needs (differentiation in action), redesigned the classrooms to fit everyone (individualization in 3D), the Common Core flows, blends, and moves with ease. All this is done in an effort to ban failure of any kind, because via the CCSS Machine, ‘failure in not an option’.

Fib-o-Meter rates this as “Total Fallacy”. Why? Failure is a vital part of us, as humans. We simply cannot succeed at every single thing we think, do, say, feel, or learn. It’s impossible. Thomas Edison’s 999 times of failure before his 1,000th try which equaled success resulted in this quote saying, “The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

There are literally hundreds of examples of similar experiences. They all share one thing about us as humans, if we DON’T fail, we cannot learn all there is to learn. As we know, CCSS loves rigidity, so naturally, ANYTHING promoting flexibility must be stopped! Therefore, “Total Fallacy” prevails.

More of KW’s vision? State leaders must set parameters for ALL students knowledge, skills, and dispositions for career/college, citizenship, and lifelong learning. States must set into motion competency based, personal learning that can happen anywhere and at anytime.

Before I share with you some more, let’s rate this overall, “Total Fallacy”.

Why? Several reasons, the biggest one is which state leaders? I, personally do not think every state leader should set parameters for ALL students. It’s almost impossible to combine a CCSS aligned version of ‘personalized learning’ in such a broad context. This statement is better suited as a paradox, not a solution! If we break this down further, what context is “ALL students” used in? According to CCSS, it only impacts certain students. “Certain” and “ALL” are not the same and the fact the KW purposefully chose all capitalized letters for ‘all’ leads me to wonder. However, even the Fib-o-Meter knows the CCSS statement that ‘it only impacts certain students’ is “Total Fallacy”, too much has been documented, reported, and shared that will many times over disprove this CCSS claim! CCSS impacts all students in one way or another!! Oh, what was I going to share? If you type in the key words to the above statement, you’ll get an almost verbatim result from other well known CCSS supporters, like ‘Achieve, Inc’.

FYI:

CCSSO also has the following groups under its authority. NewTech Network, EDWorks, and STRIVE Together. Each of these groups has specific missions which encompass the basic principles set out in KW’s vision. They each come at it from different angles. Making sure Common Core is further implemented. Don’t conquer and divide what you can surround and suppress.

Helping them along are partners like, iNACOL (the International Association for K-12 Online Learning), their mission? All students have a world class education via blended learning for a lifetime of success. iNACOL is managed by MetisNet (a group which works with non profits, as well as other kinds to promote the ‘greater good’ and help change society) as featured in the recent report published by iNACOL in conjunction with ‘Competency Works’. The report also involved Achieve, Inc., Great Schools, Matchbook Learning, NH Dept. of Ed, IA Dept. of Ed., Clay Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Jobs for the Future, EdTrust, and the Nellie Mae Foundation. The report?? It details the Federal Framework for K-12 Education Policy (the official title: “Worthen, M. and Pace, L. A K-12 Federal Policy Framework for Competency Education: Building Capacity for Systems Change.”) The report is full of the same tired lines about outcome based education, ditching as much old (traditional) models and revamping everything. Did you catch the biggest ‘Total Fallacy‘? Here’s a hint, federal. (Fib-o-Meter’s going ‘totally fallacy’ crazy on this concept) Here’s where you can get your copy of the report mentioned above.

Next up, ‘EDWorks’:
EDWorks, part of the greater CCSSO body, is all about fast tracking high school and college for students. After all, everyday is a great day to get college and career ready..especially when you align your learning to CCSS and buy in to the already run through the Fib-o-Meter fallacy of ‘college/career readiness’(you can find that post in an earlier Fib-o-Meter Friday) EdWorks also uses ‘Career Pathways’ (CCSS aligned) and ‘STEM’ (the greater agenda item using CCSS as a means to an end).

Please don’t misunderstand me, I think if done legally, meaning not based on CCSS or any of its arms/legs, and carried out correctly with care, some students can have great success with fast tracking. That said, If you want to see for yourself how the fast tracking is carried out CCSSO style: http://www.edworkspartners.org/

Let’s all ‘StriveTogether’!:

This is a truly ‘out in left field’ portion of the CCSSO, in my researched opinion. Why, look at their tag line: “Every child, cradle to career” (website: http://strivetogether.org/) If you check out their website, be sure to study the “Theory of Action”, here’s a preview of what you’ll find:

“A Continuum of Quality Benchmarks

Communities across the world have embraced the concept of collective impact, and over the past several years StriveTogether has worked to support this momentum by establishing the Cradle to Career Network of more than 90 communities working to build cradle to career collective impact partnerships. With different approaches to collective impact emerging in communities throughout the country,Network members want to ensure that the StriveTogether approach remains rigorous, calling for a more defined structure around what it means to do this work with quality

StriveTogether has established a continuum of quality benchmarks called the Theory of Action for building and sustaining civic infrastructure. Across the continuum, there are four fundamental “Gateways” which signal your partnership’s progression towards becoming a Proof Point. By crossing through each Gateway, there is a greater likelihood for sustained impact and improvement over time.” Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it.

An aligned collective community?! Is this really what CCSSO has begun?Common Core is entrenched in this, folks.

While what’s begun is “Total Truth” remember it’s based on “Total Fallacy”, so the Fib-o-Meter’s going to balance out and end up in the ‘neutral’ position. My advice, we need to delve into these branches of CCSSO a bit more. As far that 90 city “Cradle to Career” network, the closest city to me that’s a member is Winston-Salem, NC under the name “The Forsyth Promise”. To see if a city near you is already begun this alignment, http://www.strivetogether.org/cradle-career-network.

Lastly, the Tech end of CCSSO, New Tech Network:

This arm, is non profit, transforms schools digitally and is big on PBL (Project Based Learning), all of course set for rigor! (http://www.newtechnetwork.org/) How much are they behind the CCSS? “The broad acceptance of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as de facto national standards in literacy and math.” Read more about their alliance, http://www.newtechnetwork.org/sites/default/files/resources/ntnccssccready.pdf The Network is also into STEM, embedding data and more! As far as the Fib-o-Meter’s take on the ‘de facto’ reference?? This is the closest comment that’s almost rendered the Meter off the scale! “Total Fallacy”!! Education in America was never supposed to be ‘de facto’ anything! Our Founding Fathers, our U.S. Constitution, our Declaration of Independence painstakingly laid out a system of freedom.